. >> is the administration prepared to go over the fiscal cliff? >> absolutely. >> if congress in any way suggests that they're going to tie negotiations to debt ceiling votes, i will not play that game. >> he's the last person who should have limitless borrowing power. look, the only way we ever cut spending around here is by using the debate over the debt limit to do it. >> joining me now is nbc's senior political editor, mark murray. we've heard a lot about this idea of decoupling the tax cuts where the house would pass two girls, one for the middle class and one for top earners leaving it up to the senate to reject the tax cut for the rich. is that idea really on the table at this point? >> craig, that decoupling is what the white house and democrats do want. there does seem to be an indication and all the signs point to at the end of the day republicans in some form or fashion might end up budging on floo that front. you played a bunch of clips of republicans and democrats engaging in a lot of posturing and pr. a lot influences the public in t